Between You and Me ** * By RUTH CHAMBERS About one man 's love of loca history one hundred and twenty five years old! Whitby in terms of age is neither ancient nor old but it does have the dignity of advanced age. We like to think of aging with deference, respect and often reverence. The past is part of our heritage and something we must retain for future generations. Whitby is quite unique, 1 think, with a great store house of artifacts, acquired and cared for by our archivist and historian Brian Winter. It ail began for Brian at the age of 13, a student at Cobourne Street School in Whitby. Under the guidance of Mr. Frank Huisser, his home room teacher, Brian's interest began and becomes more absorbing year after year. At this time there was very littie source material. Colonel Farewell's book, Short Notes on History-of Ontario County, was one of the only available sources. At this time Brian's father received a good number of documents from an edlerly friend, and father and son poured over these papers night after night. Brian's father collected stamps and postmarkts for over fifty years and no doubt found a few in this collection. Brian became fascinated immediately, in fact so much so that it almost became a mission. Something he had to pursue, the history of Whitby and surrounding area. He started spen- ding hours at the library, reading everything in sight and making copious notes. This was a discovery, a challenge, something that would be with him for ever. Ail of this progressed way beyond school work. Then he started te take pictures of old houses and from there learn their histery. This was ail new, unchartered developing and building of history; putting the pieces together. Just imagine a youngster with such an ambition and drive? Now we are ahl recipients of his effort and work and I would think we have one of the most comprehensive collection of ar- tifacts in the country. So now the search was on and it seems to me Brian was almost "led" to storehouses of valueables. At. the Nip and Tuck railroad station, long gone beside Beaver Lumber on Dundas St. he found a treasure trove I He and a friend were given permission to hunt for documents in the building and finders keepers. They found papers, stacks of them under a loose floor board. As they pulled the floor board up they heard an unearthly shout from the station master as plaster feil on his head. This was a very meaningful experience, his first, discovery; pieces of a jigsaw, just a few of many to follow. A, jigsaw, putting pieces together and just one piece of paper cari Iead you down a thousand avenues, a road of discovery. A month later a second discovery for the 15 year old boy. Ai boy he knew gave him a store bill dated 1880 from an old house in the woocls. They went to the house together and found et whole treasure of papers alI of which are in the archives now. DIAL - N -INSPIRATION Diil 668-1331 and hear a three minute inspirationol message by ARE0 OU up To 3O% BAKING? SAVINGS We are tiere for your complete baking needs. Corne in and see our assortmeflt of Baking supplies Raisins, dates,glazed truit, baking nuts, dried fruit, spices, tea ,an iRverside crheese. CARMEN DISCOUNT BAKINO PRODUCTS 320 Marwood Ave., Unit 3, Oshawa 579-2948 HOURS: MON.-SAT. 1Oa.m.- 5p.mn. Take Wilson Rd. South of Wentworth to Ma rwood Were ïn the indistrilMail Had it not been for Brian ail these papers would have been destroyed aleng with the house. When he was 16 in 1964 a friend took him to a house where they found papers which had been used for insulation. In this case the Globe, 1861. So now the search was on, they wanted to find more. Finally they found a house on Green St., knocked on the door, told the person who opened the door that they were historians looking for documents or papers. They were alowed to go to the attic via a trap door in a cupboard. Armeli with a flashlight they started their search and sure enough there was a great mass ahead of themn of something. Piles and piles of papers 1 The Globe from 1882 te 1890 and Whitby papers from 1889 te 1890. A special edition of the Globe contained a history of Oshawa and Whitby. Rats had been chewing at the papers so Brian with special tape reconstructed one perfect paper from two which had been chewed. This was a jackpot, this find! Brian found an old barn with many documents one of whîch was a minute book without a cover of the first meeting of the County Council in 1852. Old store bis and a church magazine whose cover had been produced locally in 1866 of a Sunday school picnic. A picture taken in 1896 of Adelaide Mowbray, the teacher at Sinclair Public School with her class which is in the Ontario Archives. Two years later Miss Mowbray became Mrs. Sam McLaughlin. In 1963 someone gave Brian an old paper of 1915. At the four corners a boy on a bike handed the paper over and told him that someone had thrown out stacks of papers behind a store. Brian's dad came downtown with the car and helped him take them home. They ail dated from 1900 to 1915. Many of them were loose sheets so Brian bound them and put them together. In 1967 the Whitby Historical Society was developed and Brian aged twenty was asked to become the archivist. He organized ahi bis documents, no mean task and donated them to the Society. At that time the museum was located in the Centennial Building in the room where the archives are now. Brian was given a cupboard in that roem for the treasures. In 1970 the museum was no longer housed in this building so he WHS MEETING The next meeting of the Whitby Historical Society will be held on April 22 at 8 p.m. at the Fairview Lodge auditorium. The guest speaker will be Lorraine O'Byrne who wil speak on "food preparation in the l9th century." Time for fitness is time on Your Side. HITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESI)AY, APRIL 16,19 9). PAGE 9 1 acquired the whole room, a rather smali one at Lhat. Before 1967 Brian kept these documents and papers èis his personal possessions but when the W. H.S. was founded in 1967 he turned over his complete collection to the Society for its ar- chives. The old newspapers were given to the Ontario Ar- chives for microfilming and are preserved for ail Urne for ail to see. Tom Bouckly of Oshawa had a collection of pictures which 1 inspired Brian to do the same thing. There are photographs 1 collected by Brian over the past thirteen years, over two 1 t.housand copies housed in the archives. In 1973 Brian started a biography file. He has copied obituaries, biographies from Who's Who and other sources. There are documents and pictures fromn Ashburn, Brooklin and Myrtie of many things, church groups, school groups, parades and Sunday school picnics. Brian will be glad to help anyone who needs advice about old 1 documents, papers or photographs. 1 will be glad to help anyone with heavy old boxes or trunks full of treasure. Sometimes it's hard to go through these things alone so just eall us if you need us. I am going to collect many pictures of an area of Whitby I 1 know well. They only date back to 1949 but even in that short timne it is past history and thirty years hence it will be more so. They are ail stashed away in a box and must be sorted out and given to Brian to be copied. Whitby has artifacts pertaining te its past which are priceless and thanks to Brian are preserved and in good keeping forever. Let's add to the collection. Your originals wihl be returned to you in gooli shape in due timne. I have seem children enthr'alled with Brian's stories. He 1 brings history to life, lots of humour, much laughter. He keeps me enthralled too. I look forward to his calîs, "Just a little story to brighten your day." And se it does. I am becomning smitten with this town of Whitby and its past too and relish every morsel given to me by Brian. I just wish every school 1 child could listen to him talk about the past and this would bode well for our future. $'~* 125TH ANNIVERSARY 1855-1980 THE CORPORATION 0F THE TOWN 0F WHITBY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1980 ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS The approved Budget for 1980 contains the foiiowing projects for Road Construction: NAMEOF ROAD Walnut Street Manning Road Johnson Avenue Wllis Avenue Dunlop Street E. Mary Street East Hickory Street Cresser Avenue FROM Eue lid Street Hazelwood Drive Anderson Street Byron Street'N. Brock Street S. Brock Street N. Dundas Street E. Regional Rd. No. 23 Cochrane Street Garrard Road Stewart Street Centre Street N. Hickory Street Perry Street Mary Street E. Easterly 2 lanes with curbs and gutter, storm sewer and sidewalk on north side. 4 lanes with curbs and gutter, storm sewers and sidewalks on both sides. 2 lanes wîth curbs and gutters, storm sewers and sidewalk on the north side. 2 lanes with curbs and gutter and sidewalk on the north side. 2 lanes with curbs and gutter, storm sewers and sidewalks on both sides. 2 lanes with curbs and gutter and sidewalks on both sides. 2 lanes with curbe and gutter, stormr sewers and sidewalks on both s ides. Storm Sewers If you have any comments in connection with the above-noted projects. please contact Mr. S. S. Matharu, P. Eng.. Deputy Drector of Public Works. at the Municipal Building, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario, Telephone (416) 668-5803. R. A. Kuwahara, P. Eng., Director of Public Works. THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY 0F DURHAM NOTICE 0F PUBLIC MEETING DURHAM Take notice that the recommendat ions of the Special Committee appointed by the Council of The Regional Municipality of Durham to conduot a study of The Regional Municipality of Durham Act, 1973 wili be considered by Regional Counicil on Wednesday, Aprit 30, 1980 at 10:.00 a.m. The interest and participation of the citizens and organizations of Durham Region In the presentation of submissions to the Special Committee is appreciated and the public Is Invited to attend the meeting to be heid in the Council Chambers, Regional Headquarters Building, 605 Rossiand Road East, Whitby, Ontario, at which time the Report of the Special Committee wiil beavailabie. J. H. Potticary, Chairman, Special Committee to Review The Regional Municipality of Durham Act, 1973 mop %.Aj m